ACME, a leading provider of ticketing, membership and donation management systems through cloud software, uses open API access to help cultural institutions and attractions break out of limiting parameters, achieving an interactive solution that is tailored to their brand and image.
With open API’s, the company is able to plug into many different best-of-breed platforms in order to create a rich ecosystem or super-platform.
“By allowing two different platforms to talk with another, open API powers more robust communication, and a highly customizable solution,” says Echeyde Cubillo, CTO & Founder, ACME Technologies.
For instance, a client could tie ACME’s online ticketing expertise to Salesforce’s CRM solution for a two-way, open-flow of data that is unobtrusive to the end-user. Open platforms allow attractions to easily connect vital functions like ticketing, membership, finance, retail and more.
Benefits of open, cloud-based platforms
This solution is cost-effective, flexible, customisable and accessible. It also creates visibility and insights thanks to comprehensive data and increases productivity and revenue.
ACME’s partnership with Ingresso means that users can access a global list of eCommerce retailers, ticket agents, travel agents and tour operators, leading to increased revenue. Using ACME’s open API, Ingresso connects to the ACME Platform to enable ticket sales through third parties, as well as allowing real-time ticket inventory.
The ACME platform allows institutions to manage Online Travel Agencies (OTAs) and marketing integrations through its open APIs, meaning that users can increase their reach both domestically and internationally, manage third party bookings through the same inventory as direct bookings and manage their capacity. They also benefit from a simple process for revenue recognition and reconciliation alongside classic booking and selling, as well as real-time reporting and settlements.
From the guest point of view, it makes their visit safer too. Thanks to partnerships with leading providers like softtouch.io, Museum Anywhere, Ingresso, CityPASS, and Digonex, clients can limit interactions with guests and can use ACME’s open REST APIs to provide COVID-proof solutions such as touchless entry, automatic ticket validation and rebooking, and digital sales.
Improving the guest experience
An example of this is the integration between ACME’s ticketing platform and CityPASS, a company that provides bundled discounted admissions tickets to leading attractions in 14 North American destinations. This helps streamline contactless guest entry to three popular visitor attractions: The Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York City, the Barnes Foundation in Philadelphia, and the Seattle Aquarium, by allowing advanced reservations online.
As a result, The Seattle Aquarium has been able to reduce the time and resources needed to provide entry tickets. “It has increased operational efficiency and provided a much better visitor experience for our guests,” says Amy Zolton, Guest and Membership Services Manager.
In Michigan, The Detroit Institute of Art used ACME’s open REST APIs, alongside cutting edge technology from softtouch.io, to create a no-touch validation entry system for their guests.
“This solution was incredibly easy to implement, required very minimal training for our staff and the best part is that staff and visitors feel much safer and more comfortable on entry. It’s intuitive, fast and reliable” says Richard Scott, Director of Information Technology at The Detroit Institute of Art.
Data and insights
ACME also provides an in-application report building interface, one which is designed for the every-day user – no coding skills required. Reports can be created, edited, deleted, run and downloaded to CSV or PDF from the command line (CLI) or an integrated development environment (IDE).
Data can also be queried without creating a report and written to a local file, sent to email, or to a data warehouse. Clients can also use the ACME API to connect third parties specializing in data analytics, like Dexibit.
ACME’s ecosystem of applications that use the API layer include:
- Back Office web application
- Consumer web application buying flows (pick calendar, event, place order with tickets and inventory add-ons)
- iOS Point of Sale (POS) application
- iOS Access Control application (scanning to check-in or manual check-ins)
Organizations can now focus on important branding and operational initiatives, while delegating the critical functions of their eCommerce site to specialists such as ACME, a platform that in turn, connects to every other system in the organization: financial, CRM, retail, etc.
Simplifying data sharing with other applications enables cultural institutions to opt for the best, most cost-effective applications tailored to their business functions. This improves their agility and performance, as well as giving them a competitive edge.
“Our open platform offers a modern solution that provides flexibility, scalability and a low total cost of ownership option to run your business”, says Bill Shaughnessy, CEO of ACME Technologies.
Earlier this year, ACME also announced that its systems have helped the Barnes Foundation in Philadelphia to use robots as a contactless entry solution.
